Influencer Relations Specialist, Rakuten Kobo
1 Year Contract
Digital bookseller
Open for applications
Digital bookseller
501-1000 employees
Open for applications
501-1000 employees
Company mission
To bring the power of reading to the world.
Role
Who you are
- We are seeking a creative and relationship-driven Influencer Relations Specialist with a passion for digital storytelling to drive Kobo’s brand presence and ethos
- 3–5 years of experience in influencer marketing, social media management, or public relations, specifically focused on content creator relationships preferably for consumer-facing D2C brand (e.g., tech, lifestyle)
- Demonstrated experience managing and executing influencer programs within the North American market
- Bachelor’s degree in marketing, communications, English, or an allied field (e.g., social media, digital media)
- Experience working within or a strong understanding of the bookish community (Booktok, Bookstagram) is a strong plus
- Strong written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to present complex concepts in a clear and engaging way
- Confidence in public speaking and presenting to various audiences, including internal teams and external stakeholders
- Excellent English skills (verbal and written)
- Highly detail-oriented and organized, with a proactive and positive approach to identifying and solving challenges
- Comfortable working in a fast-paced environment with shifting priorities
- A natural collaborator who thrives on teamwork and cross-functional communication
- Open to feedback and eager to contribute to the continuous improvement of processes and materials
- Creative, curious, and critical thinker. Constantly searching for new approaches
What the job involves
- This key role reports to the Senior Manager, social media, and will be responsible for developing and executing a robust influencer strategy that deeply resonates with the bookish communities online
- The Specialist will own the end-to-end influencer program lifecycle, from sourcing and contracting to coordinating with content creators and agencies
- This is an exciting opportunity to cultivate authentic partnerships, provide data-driven recommendations, and significantly contribute to Kobo's brand growth and influence among avid readers
- Assist in developing a comprehensive influencer strategy especially focused on the North American market that aligns directly with the overarching social media and brand marketing goals
- Conduct ongoing industry research to identify emerging trends, platforms, and high-potential creators relevant to Kobo’s brand audience
- Establish clear KPIs and metrics for all influencer programs to ensure alignment with business objectives
- Manage the end-to-end influencer program lifecycle, including sourcing, outreach, negotiation, and contracting for paid and gifted partnerships
- Oversee the coordination of external agencies and vendor partners, ensuring they meet strategic goals and delivery timelines
- Lead the execution of influencer campaigns, including content collaborations, product seeding, and promotional events
- Manage campaign budgets effectively, ensuring maximum ROI across all influencer initiatives
- Lead the boosting and paid amplification of influencer content to extend reach and drive conversions
- Cultivate and maintain strong, mutually beneficial relationships with a diverse roster of content creators and influencers
- Manage a dedicated pool of content creators for organic social media content production, ensuring a consistent flow of high-quality, on-brand assets
- Serve as the primary liaison with the Communications team to coordinate strategies and outreach for earned influencers and long-term brand ambassadors
- Ensure all content produced adheres to brand guidelines, legal requirements and disclosure standards
- Track, measure, and analyze performance across all influencer campaigns using relevant social media and marketing analytics tools
- Generate comprehensive campaign reports and present key findings, insights, and recommendations for future strategy optimization
Application process
- Rakuten Kobo would like to thank all applicants for their interest in this role however only qualified candidates will be shortlisted
Our take
Long-form content is having a resurgence. That’s great news for the e-reader industry, of which Rakuten’s Kobo battles with Amazon’s Kindle for ownership.
The e-reader giant has changed tack in recent years to pursue growth via integrations and partnerships. A notable example is its native device integration with Pocket, a wishlist app loved by millions of readers.
The company is hoping that these partnerships and product improvements will allow it to finally break the US market where it most struggles for market share with Kindle.
Amazon has consistently shown its willingness to drop prices to protect its position in any market it plays in. That means that Kobo will have to demonstrate true product superiority to make a dent while protecting its margins.
Steph
Company Specialist at Welcome to the Jungle
Insights
Company
Company benefits
- "Work from anywhere" policy
- Flexible hours
- Internet/phone/commuting allowance
- Daily meal allowance when in the office
- $500 CAD flexible spending account
- Parental leave top-up
- Unlimited sick and mental health days
- 4-day summer holiday weekends
- RRSP matching, bonus and stock options
- Free Kobo eReader
- Free weekly book of your choice
- Volunteer time off
Company HQ
Liberty Village, Toronto, ON
Leadership
Michael Tamblyn
(CEO)Part of the founding team of Kobo, Michael previously held the role of Chief Content Officer. Michael has also been the founding CEO of the supply chain agency, BookNet Canada and co-founded Canada’s first online bookstore, Bookshelf.ca, purchased by Indigo Books & Music in 1998.
Anna Giagkou
(CFO)Prior to joining Rakuten Kobo in 2021, Anna was the CFO of Cox Automotive Canada.
Nimod Narayanan
(CTO)Nimod joined Rakuten Kobo in 2022 as VP of Technology, he then became the SVP of Technology in 2023, and CTO in 2025. Prior to this, he spent nearly 4 years at Rogers Communications joining as a Senior Development Manager before becoming a Director of eCommerce & Personalization and then Senior Director of Digital Platforms & Services.
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